Stanley Kubrick’s “Barry Lyndon” is a really good movie. It’s easy to overlook: It’s a period piece, leisurely paced, and the titular protagonist is feckless at best. The more I look at it, however, the more I like it. For one thing, it’s very funny. (“Parts, anyway”, as the cowboy from “The Big Lebowski” might say.)
Quotes
Redmond Barry: Captain Feeny, that’s all the money my mother had in the world. Mightn’t I be allowed to keep it? I’m just one step ahead of the law myself. I killed an English officer in a duel, and I’m on my way to Dublin until things cool down.
Captain Feeny: Mr. Barry, in my profession we hear many such stories. Yours is one of the most intriguing and touching I’ve heard in many weeks. Nevertheless, I’m afraid I cannot grant your request. But I’ll tell you what I will do. I’ll allow you to keep those fine pair of boots which in normal circumstances I would have for myself. The next town is only 5 miles away, and I suggest you now start walking.
Redmond Barry: Mightn’t I be allowed to keep my horse?
Captain Feeny: I should like to oblige you, but with people like us, we must be able to travel faster than our clients. Good day, young sir.
Narrator: A lady who sets her heart upon a lad in uniform must prepare to change lovers pretty quickly, or her life will be but a sad one. This heart of Lischen’s was like many a neighboring town and had been stormed and occupied several times before Barry came to invest it.
Narrator: Barry’s first taste of battle was only a skirmish against a small rearguard of Frenchmen who occupied an orchard beside a road down which, a few hours later, the English main force would wish to pass. Though this encounter is not recorded in any history books, it was memorable enough for those who took part.
Title Card: It was in the reign of George III that the aforesaid personages lived and quarreled; good or bad, handsome or ugly, rich or poor they are all equal now
